Polio: Eradication Efforts and Global Impact

Polio, also known as polio, is a highly contagious viral disease. Often, there are no specific symptoms. In severe cases, the disease can lead to paralysis of the legs or respiratory muscles. Polio has been considered eradicated in Europe since 2002, but there were two cases in Ukraine in September 2015. This underscores the importance of vaccination to prevent the virus from recurring. Until 1998, two different polio vaccines were available. Today, only the IPV vaccine released by Jonas Salk, injected intramuscularly, is used. The oral vaccination, on the other hand, is no longer used in Germany because it has triggered polio itself in rare cases.

What is polio?

Polio is a disease caused by the highly contagious poliovirus. Anyone infected with the virus can be contagious just a few hours after infection and remain so for up to six weeks. How long it takes for the disease to break out can vary greatly: the incubation period is usually between three and 35 days.

The virus is predominantly transmitted fecal-orally. In this respect, polioviruses are similar to the pathogens that cause hepatitis A. Fecal-oral means that the pathogen is excreted in the stool of infected people. Due to poor hygiene, the viruses can then get onto objects or liquids and be taken up again via the mouth (orally). Droplet infection from sneezing or coughing is possible but relatively rare.

 

Polio: Symptoms non-specific

Polio often runs its course either without or at least without apparent symptoms. Those affected usually do not even notice that they are infected with the virus. They only show unspecific symptoms such as fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhoea. This phase can last between one and two weeks – the disease often subsides afterwards.

If the viruses penetrate the central nervous system, symptoms such as fever, back pain, stiff neck and muscle pain can occur about three to seven days after the end of the first phase. In some of those affected – an estimated between 0.1 and 1 per cent – the symptoms of paralysis typical of polio subsequently appear. This is asymmetric paralysis, which usually remains after the disease has subsided.

The legs are primarily affected by the paralysis. The virus can also affect other muscles, such as the arms, eyes or stomach. If the paralysis extends to the respiratory muscles, this can lead to the death of the patient. A severe course is more likely in adult patients than in children.

Post-Polio-Syndrome

After recovering from polio, the so-called post-polio syndrome can occur later in life, sometimes even years or decades later. This syndrome can also be felt when the polio disease has passed without symptoms.

In the course of the post-polio syndrome, symptoms such as muscle wasting, weakness, pain and states of exhaustion occur. Typically, no causes for the symptoms can be found during medical examinations. It is, therefore, assumed that in the case of some chronic diseases without a recognizable cause, a post-polio syndrome is behind the symptoms.

 

treat polio

A treatment against the polio virus is impossible because, so far, no drugs can combat the pathogens. Once the disease has broken out, only the symptoms that occur can be treated. The only adequate protection against polio is the polio vaccine.

Vaccination protects against polio.

To protect against polio, two different vaccinations were available in Germany until 1998:

• Oral vaccination (oral polio vaccine; OPV)
• Injection (injectable polio vaccine; IPV according to Salk)

Since 1998, only the IPV vaccine has been used in Germany. Although the oral vaccination with weakened polioviruses offered more effective protection, it triggered polio in rare cases. About one to two cases (vaccine poliomyelitis) occurred in Germany yearly.

Therefore, only the IPV vaccine is used today. This cannot cause poliomyelitis since no weakened but killed viruses are injected. The vaccine is injected into the bottom, upper arm, or thigh.

The disadvantage of this vaccination is that it is more complex and associated with higher costs. This makes it difficult, especially in developing countries, to achieve comprehensive vaccination protection. Oral vaccination is still often used here.

Polio – How often to vaccinate?

How often you need to be vaccinated against polio depends on the type of vaccine used – whether a single or combination vaccine is used. As a rule, the vaccinations are carried out at two and four months and between the 11th and 14th months. An additional three-month vaccination is possible, depending on the vaccination schedule. Polio vaccinations are often given together with vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. A booster vaccination is recommended for children between 9 and 17.

Look at your vaccination certificate and find you need all the necessary polio vaccinations. You should contact your family doctor and have the vaccinations made up for.

 

Polio is declining worldwide.

Polio used to be global and relatively common. However, with the introduction of oral vaccination in 1962, the disease has been almost completely suppressed. Much of the world is now considered polio-free.

Some parents believe there is no longer any risk and stop vaccinating their children against polio. However, this is a dangerous fallacy. Because the lack of vaccination protection increases the risk that polio cases will occur again in Germany. Although no more cases have been reported in Germany recently, polio cases reappeared in Europe in 2015.